Plate Heat Exchanger Mounting

[GCTerpfan]

With a lot of help and information that I gained from this site I recently installed an OWB to heat my house and DHW. I fired it for the first time this weekend and with the exception of one minor leak I found in on of the copper adapters to my heat exchanger everything is working great.

However, as I was cleaning up I picked up the manual for my heat exchangers and noticed that it said that they must be mounted vertically. I somehow didn't see this when I was installing them and mounted both a 5"x12" 30 plate for DHW and a 5"x12" 50 plate that heats my house horizontally. The horizontal mounting made the piping a lot easier and 'cleaner'.

Did I make a mistake? Will the heat exchangers still function correctly mounted horizontally?

 

[aeblank]

I'd guess the orientation is for air escape reasons. Not sure if it'll be a problem. If you can use high volumes of fluid to push air out, i'd guess you'd be fine.

 

[GCTerpfan]

I have yet to find any reasoning for the vertical orientation. I have found mounting instructions for various brands on line that say things like "should be mounted vertically", " Mount vertically if possible" and found one website that alluded to them working more efficiently if mounted vertically but I have never found any reasoning for the requirement?

 

[Pologuy9906]

I was told to mount vertically to ensure minerals don't depositdecreasing the efficiency. I have to mount two of them as well. Trying to figure out the best way to do it.

 

[Bob Rohr]

I was told to mount vertically to ensure minerals don't depositdecreasing the efficiency. I have to mount two of them as well. Trying to figure out the best way to do it.

The only mount I have seen causing a problem is with the connections facing down, with the HX in a flat position. Any other mounting should be fine with pumped fluid flows. Unless the manufacturer has specific reasons to avoid a position?